Ceanothus plant named &#39;MATCEA01&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Ceanothus  cultivar named ‘MATCEA01’ is disclosed, characterized by distinctive dark green foliage with a yellow margin. Plants exhibit good tolerance to high heat and sun, resisting leaf scorch. Plants are vigorous and grow rapidly to approximately 10 feet in diameter and 2 feet tall. The new cultivar is a  Ceanothus , suitable for ornamental garden purposes.

Latin name of the genus and species: Ceanothus griseus.

Variety denomination: ‘MATCEA01’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of chance discovery by the inventor Ryan Wallace. This new variety, hereinafter referred to as ‘MATCEA01’, was discovered as a naturally occurring single branch mutation of Ceanothus griseus ‘Diamond Heights’, unpatented. The discovery and selection of the new variety was made during July of 2014. The new variety was selected by the inventor at a commercial nursery in Sacramento, Calif.

After identifying the new variety as a potentially interesting selection, the inventor first organized propagation of ‘MATCEA01’ by vegetative terminal cuttings September of 2014 at the same commercial nursery in Sacramento, Calif. The inventor continued controlled testing and propagation, assessing stability of the unique characteristics of this variety. At least three generations have been reproduced and have shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘MATCEA01’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘MATCEA01’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘MATCEA01’ as a new and distinct Ceanothus cultivar:

-   -   1. Unique dark green foliage with golden yellow margins.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit, reaching mature size quickly.     -   3. Observed resistance to leaf scorch in direct sun.     -   4. Finished plant size of approximately 2 feet tall and 10 feet         wide.

COMPARISON TO PARENT VARIETY

‘MATCEA01’ is similar in most horticultural characteristics to the parent Ceanothus griseus ‘Diamond Heights’. Plants of the new cultivar ‘MATCEA01’ however differ in the following:

-   -   1. The new variety has dark green foliage with a yellow margin;         parent variety has yellow foliage with a green center blotch     -   2. The new variety resists leaf scorch under full sun         conditions, as found in Sacramento, Calif., where the parent         variety has been observed to suffer from leaf scorch.     -   3. Finished plant size of the new variety is approximately 2         feet tall and 10 feet wide, finished plant size of the parent is         approximately 1 foot tall and 6 feet wide.     -   4. Plants of the new variety are more vigorous and grower         faster, as well as larger than plants of the parent variety.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘MATCEA01’ can be compared to the commercial variety Ceanothus griseus horizontalis ‘Yankee Point’ unpatented. Plants of the new cultivar ‘MATCEA01’ are similar to plants of ‘Yankee Point’ in most horticultural characteristics, especially plant form, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘MATCEA01’ differ in the following:

-   -   1. ‘MatCea01’ has foliage with a yellow margin; foliage of this         comparator is solid green.     -   2. Plants of ‘Yankee Point’ require shade in very warm Summer         climates, plants of ‘MatCea01’ aren't tolerant of full sun         conditions in very warm Summer climates.

‘MATCEA01’ can be compared to the commercial variety Ceanothus thyrsifolus griseus ‘Perado’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,433. Plants of the new cultivar ‘MATCEA01’ are similar to plants of ‘Perado’ in some horticultural characteristics, including variegated foliage. Plants of the new cultivar ‘MATCEA01’ however, differ in the following;

-   -   1. Plants of the new variety are semi-prostrate, plants of         ‘Perado’ are upright globular.     -   2. Plants of the new variety reach a height of approximately 2         feet, plants of ‘Perado’ grow to approximately 8 feet tall.     -   3. Plants of the new variety are much denser than the open form         of ‘Perado’.     -   4. Plants of ‘Perado’ require shade in very warm Summer         climates, plants of ‘MatCea01’ aren't tolerant of full sun         conditions in very warm Summer climates.     -   5. Plants of the new variety are faster growing than plants of         ‘Perado’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a close up of typical flowers and foliage of the new variety. The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to the Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘MATCEA01’ plants grown outdoors in Loxley, Ala. Plants are approximately 2 years old, in a 3 gallon nursery container. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Ceanothus griseus ‘MATCEA01’. -   Propagation: Typically by semi-hardwood cuttings in Spring and     Summer.     -   -   Rooting.—Approximately 1 month at 18° C. to initiate             rooting. Approximately 3 months 18° C. to produce a rooted             cutting.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous young roots, well branched.             Colored near RHS Grey-Brown 199A. -   Plant:     -   -   Growth habit.—Prostrate, trailing, evergreen shrub.         -   Height: Approximately 7 to 8 cm to top of foliar and             flowering plane.         -   Plant spread.—Approximately 80 cm.         -   Branching characteristics.—Well branched, approximately 4 to             8 primary branches from the center of the plant. Branches             occur at approximately 15° to 45° angles. Each primary             branch has 6 to 10 lateral branches.         -   Primary branches.—.         -   Length of primary branches.—Average range 25 to 40 cm.         -   Diameter of primary branches.—Approximately 0.5-0.8 cm.         -   Primary branch strength.—Moderately strong and flexible.         -   Primary branch color.—Near RHS Green 138A.         -   Primary branch texture.—Glabrous, ridged.         -   Lateral branches.—.         -   Number of lateral branches.—Approximately 6 to 10 per             primary branch.         -   Length of lateral branches.—Average range 10 to 20 cm.         -   Diameter of lateral branches.—Average 0.4 cm.         -   Lateral branch strength.—Moderately strong and flexible.         -   Lateral branch color.—Near RHS Green 137C.         -   Lateral branch texture.—Glabrous, ridged.         -   Internode length.—Average 2.0 to 2.8 cm.         -   Age of plant described.—Approximately 1 year. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaf.—Type: Simple Arrangement: Opposite. Average Length:             Approximately 3.5 to 4.7 cm. Average Width: Approximately             2.0 to 2.5 cm. Shape of blade: Ovate. Apex: Broad acute.             Base: Truncate. Attachment: Stalked Margin: Finely and             irregularly serrate or crenate. Texture of top surface:             Glabrous. Texture of bottom surface: Glabrous. Color: Young             foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 139A margin near Green             138A and Yellow-Green 144C. Young foliage under side: Near             RHS Green 137B margin near Yellow-Green 144B Mature foliage             upper side: Near RHS Green 139A margin near Yellow 3C Mature             foliage under side: Near RHS Green 137B margin near             Yellow-Green 144B.         -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Three main parallel veins, with             laterals occurring in a pinnate pattern. Venation color             upper side: Near RHS Green 137A Venation color under-side:             Near RHS Yellow-Green 144C.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 0.8 cm. Diameter: About 0.2 cm Color:             Upper Surface: Near RHS Green 137C Lower Surface: Near RHS             Yellow-Green 144B. -   Flower:     -   -   Bloom period.—Plants begin flowering in the late Winter to             very early Spring, and continues for approximately 4 to 6             weeks.         -   Flower.—Campanulate, monecious, outwardly facing flowers             arranged in a raceme.         -   Inflorescence.—Height: Average 5.0 to 10.0 cm. Diameter:             Average 3.0 cm. Shape: Obconical Flowers per: 50 to 70.         -   Individual flowers.—Length: Average 0.5 cm. Diameter:             Average 0.3 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 5 Length: Approximately 0.2 cm. Width:             Approximately 0.1 cm Apex: Rounded. Shape of petal:             Spatulate Petal margin; Entire. Aspect very slightly             undulating. Petal Arrangement: Single whorl Petal Number: 5             full petals. 3 to 5 irregularly shaped and sized petaloids             in center of flower. Petal Texture: Smooth, glabrous all             surfaces Color: Upper surface at first opening: Near RHS             Violet-Blue 97B Under surface at first opening: Near RHS             Violet-Blue 97C Inner surface at maturity: Near Violet-Blue             97B Outer surface at maturity: Near RHS Blue 101D Upper             surface at fading: Near RHS Violet-Blue 97D Under surface at             fading: Near RHS Blue 106D.         -   Peduncle.—Length: Average 0.5 cm to 2.5 cm. Diameter:             0.2 cm. Color: Near RHS Green 138A Texture: Glabrous.             Aspect: Straight. Strength: Moderately sturdy and flexible.         -   Pedicel.—Length: Average 0.5 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm. Color:             Near RHS Green 138A Texture: Glabrous Aspect: Straight.             Angle of attachment, approximately 15 to 45°. Strength: Soft             and flexible.         -   Bud.—Shape: Globular Length: 0.5 cm Diameter: 0.3 cm Color:             Near RHS Violet-blue 98D.         -   Calyx/sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5 sepals Shape: Ovate             Length: 0.2 cm Width: 0.1 cm Apex: Acute Base: Truncate             Margin: Entire Texture: Glabrous all surfaces Color: Inner             Surface: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145B, flushed Violet-Blue             94C. Outer Surface: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145B, flushed             Violet-Blue 94D. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Number: 5 Stamen Length: 0.3 cm Width: Less than             0.1 cm Color: Near RHS White N155A.         -   Anthers.—Length: Approximately 0.1 cm Shape: Linear Color:             Near RHS Yellow 6D Pollen: Scant, colored near Yellow 14D.         -   Pistil.—Number: 1 Length: Average 0.5 cm Style: Length:             Average 0.4 Color: Near RHS White N155A Stigma: Globular,             colored near Yellow-White 158A Ovary: Approximately 1 mm in             diameter, colored near Black 202B. -   Other characteristics:     -   -   Disease and pest resistance.—Not observed to be susceptible             nor resistant to normal diseases and pests of Ceanothus.         -   Temperature tolerance.—Hardy to approximately 20 to 25° F.             Tolerant of high temperatures to approximately 100° F.         -   Fruit/seed production.—Not observed to date. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Ceanothus plant named ‘MATCEA01’ as herein illustrated and described. 